My last shopping trip resulted in the purchase of an abundance of bananas. What can I say? They were on sale. We used some for snacks, some for smoothies, and some for our vegan ice cream recipe. While most were eaten, we still had three, left alone and forgotten, on the kitchen table. I planned to use them in banana pudding, but they were too ripe. “No problem,” I said, “I’ll just make banana nut bread.”
Easy Banana Nut Bread Recipe
I found the basic recipe in Taste of Home’s 5 Ingredient Cookbook. It called for five ingredients but I added one extra *secret* ingredient to make it extra moist. Hint: The secret ingredient is a box of instant banana pudding mix. This recipe only takes about ten minutes of prep time and can be baked as four mini loaves or two regular loaves.
Substitutions and Tips:
- If you want to prepare a gluten-free version, substitute a box of gluten-free cake mix for the regular cake mix.
- The banana pudding mix is optional. If you don’t have it, there’s no need to run to the store. Substitute a box of vanilla instant pudding mix or leave it out altogether. It’s entirely up to you.
- Substitute different flavors of cake mix for the yellow cake mix. Good choices are white, chocolate or Devil’s food, or spice cake mixes.
- Be sure to spray the pans with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the bread from sticking.
- Allow the bread to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing it from the pan.
How to Check to See if it’s Done:
To be sure the bread is done, insert a knife into the center of the loaf. If the knife comes out clean (no batter or runniness) the bread is ready to remove from the oven.
How to Mash the Bananas:
You can do this two ways. Peel the bananas, slice them into chunks, and place them in a medium bowl. Use a fork to mash the bananas.
Or, place the bananas in a blender for 5 to 10 seconds.
Recipe Variations:
- Chocolate Banana Nut Bread: Substitute a box of chocolate or Devil’s Food cake mix for the yellow cake mix.
- Double Chocolate Banana Bread: Omit the pecans. Substitute a box of chocolate or Devil’s Food Cake mix for the yellow cake mix and add one cup of milk chocolate chips to the batter.
- Peanut Butter Banana Nut Bread: Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter to the batter.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread: Omit the instant banana pudding mix. Substitute a box of chocolate or Devil’s food cake mix for the yellow cake mix and a box of instant chocolate pudding mix. Add 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter to the batter.
What Bananas Work Best in this Bread?
- Choose VERY ripe bananas for this bread. Using bananas whose peels have some black on them means the banana will have an extra sweetness. It will also be easier to mash.
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make the Bread:
- 1 box (15.25 ounces) yellow cake mix
- 1 box (3.2 ounces) instant banana pudding mix (Don’t use the cook n’ serve pudding, only instant)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 to 3 Very Ripe Bananas
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Printable Recipe:
Easy Banana Nut Bread Recipe
16
servings10
minutes35
minutesAn easy six-ingredient banana nut bread recipe that can be made gluten-free.
Ingredients
1 box (15.25 ounce) yellow cake mix
1 box (3.2 ounces) instant banana pudding mix
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 to 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the box of cake mix and the instant pudding mix.
- Add the egg and the milk. Using a mixer, stir until the mixture is blended.
- Add the bananas and mix until blended. Stir in the pecans.
- Spray (2) 9″ by 5″ bread loaf pans or (4) 5 1/2″ by 3″ mini bread loaf pans with cooking spray. Spoon an equal amount of batter into each pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
-
Allow the bread to cool before removing it from the pan.
Kids love to help make this recipe. They can mash the bananas, add the ingredients to the mixing bowl, and be taste testers. Plus, measuring ingredients is a great way to teach fractions. 😉 It’s a great way to spend family time together in the kitchen.
Have you tried the easy banana nut bread recipe? What is your favorite bread recipe?
Try These Dessert Recipes Next:
If you need more easy dessert recipes, check out my Chocolate-Caramel Thumbprint Cookies or my Rocky Road Brownies Recipe.
Try These Tasty Tuesday Recipes From My Friends:
Crockpot Ham With Pineapples and Brown Sugar– Life. Family. Fun.
Liquor Easter Eggs by Eat. Rock. Play.
Easy Asian Pork Loin by Convos With Karen
Air Fryer Brown Sugar Ham by Cheap is the New Classy
Mini Fruit Pizza Tarts by Outnumbered 3 to 1
Pingback: Easy No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies Recipe - Simply Southern Mom
Pingback: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cream Bars Recipe - Simply Southern Mom
Pingback: French Vanilla Dalgona Coffee Recipe | Eat Play Rock
Pingback: 3 Ingredient Sheet Pan Italian Potatoes Recipe | The New Classy
We have bben on a banana nut bread kick. Thanks for the variety of recipes as now I will change it up a bit.
I have seen nothing but Banana Bread being made on Instagram and now that I finally have some ripe bananas I am going to attempt to make your recipe!
There is something about banana bread isn’t there? It’s definitely a comfort food. This sounds like such a great recipe as well.
I love how easy this recipe is. I have some new ingredients to add to my next grocery delivery order!
Love the texture of this banana bread! Mmmmm….. it looks really good!
I need to go back to baking and make use the extra time during this quarantine period. I love the chocochip cookies.
Hmmm yum! This banana nut bread looks totally delicious in every bite! My wife will love this for sure! Got to check my pantry for ingredients.
This is one of the moments in my life that I wished I had my own oven. I would love to bake while in quarantine.
Anyway, thank you for sharing this recipe. I totally want to eat this right now!
I love taking overly ripe bananas and using them for banana bread. What a great idea to use pudding in the bread mix!
I have an old family banana bread recipe that I love, but I just may have to try with pudding! This sounds delicious!
This makes me wish I could eat bananas, nuts and bread – LOL!
I love a good banana bread recipe. Looking forward to making this.
Yes please! I love banana bread so I will have to make this. It will make a tasty dessert and I know my family will gobble it up.
Pingback: Easy Asian Pork Loin for quick family dinners - Convos with Karen
Pingback: Air Fryer Brown Sugar Ham Recipe | The New Classy
Pingback: Liquor Easter Eggs - What Your Adult Friends Really Want This Year